Gamecocks fall to Auburn in first game of series
Friday night starters come in all shapes and sizes, and the Gamecocks found that out the hard way. With Auburn’s Friday night starter Keegan Thompson out, Casey Mize pitched a complete game, giving up four runs in a 5-4 Gamecock loss.
The sophomore mowed through the Gamecock lineup, notching a career-high 12 strikeouts, as the Tigers take the first game of the series.
Auburn would strike first, plating two runs in the first inning on a passed ball from Chris Cullen. The inning was started after Jonah Bride sail a throw on the first at-bat of the inning.
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The Tigers would tack on three more in the third inning on a two-RBI double followed up by a run-scoring single.
Madison Stokes would put the Gamecocks on the board with a groundout in the top of the fifth inning, and the Gamecocks (18-7, 5-2 SEC) would get three more in the sixth after LT Tolbert reached on a fielder’s choice to plate a run and Jacob Olson and Carlos Cortes had back-to-back RBI singles.
Wil Crowe had a rocky start to his first Friday-night start this season, giving up seven base runners through three innings. He would settle down, though, giving up just one hit in his last three innings pitched.
He finished going six innings and giving up five runs, three earned. He struck out six batters.
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Reed Scott relieved him in the seventh inning, setting down the Tigers in order to start his outing. He would give up one hit, a single in the eighth, but nothing else.
The Gamecocks would have problems figuring out Tiger starter Mize, whose ERA is less than two after his complete game performance.
The Gamecocks would hit better Than Auburn with runners on base and with men in scoring position, but couldn’t scratch across any runs the last three innings of the game to tie or go ahead.
Down to their final three outs, the Gamecocks get a leadoff single from Jacob Olson. Carlos Cortes would single and be thrown out at second, but Olson advanced to third. Madison Stokes would line out, keeping Olson at third, and TJ Hopkins end the game on a bunt attempt.
